Security attachment and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A security attachment for helping to prevent unwanted access to a container slide fastener includes a retainer mounted in proximity to the slide fastener and an elongate toggle pull adapted to be removably secured in a fixed position by the retainer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX”

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to security devices and more particularly, is related to a security attachment for a container with a slide fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A security attachment for helping to prevent unwanted access to a container slide fastener includes a retainer mounted in close proximity to the slide fastener and an elongate toggle pull adapted to be removably secured in a fixed position by the retainer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view illustrating a container having a security attachment which is constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial view illustrating another container having a security attachment which is constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a retainer which forms part of the security attachment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plane view of the retainer of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of the retainer of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plane view of an elongate toggle member which forms part of the security attachment of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a top plane view of a slide fastener and its pull tab, illustrating the pull tab attached to the elongate toggle member of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top plane view of another security attachment which is constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial pictorial view illustrating of yet another security attachment which is constructed in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a partial pictorial view illustrating of still yet another security attachment which is constructed in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial pictorial view illustrating of still yet another security attachment which is constructed in accordance with still yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a partial pictorial view illustrating of yet another security attachment which is constructed in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 12 thereof, there is illustrated a container, in the form of a carrier bag 4 with a shoulder strap 5 as illustrated in FIG. 1 or a fabric extension 5′ as illustrated in FIG. 12. The carrier bag 4 is shown with at least two separate article storage areas, where each storage area includes an entrance, such as an entrance or mouth 6, through which an article (not shown) may be inserted into the interior storage area of the bag 4. The carrier bag 4 is further provided with a slide fastener or zipper 7 having a slider 8 with a pull tab 9 attached thereto to help facilitate moving the slider 8 between an open position as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a closed position as illustrated in FIG. 12. In order to secure the zipper 7 and its associated slider 8 in a closed and secured position as illustrated in FIG. 12, the container 4 is further provided with a security attachment 10, which is constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Although in the preferred embodiment of the present invention the container has been described as a carrier bag, it is contemplated that a large variety of different types and kinds of containers can be provided with a security attachment such as the security attachment 10. For example, it is contemplated that the container can be selected from a group of containers that includes: a duffle bag, a wallet, a tote bag, a hiking bag, a bike bag, a camera bag, a pouch, a backpack, a shoulder bag, a messenger bag, a purse, a clutch, a piece of luggage, a wheeled piece of luggage, a wheeled tote, a wheeled duffle, a wheeled backpack, a climbing bag, a travel pack, a bag, a toiletry bag, a wheeled toiletry bag, a laptop bag, a briefcase, a business case, a sling bag, a waist pack, a fanny pack, a lumbar bag, a belt bag, a neck wallet, an under-garment bag, a suitor bag, a wheeled suitor bag, a garment bag, a wheeled garment bag, a convertible duffle, a convertible luggage piece, a wheeled convertible luggage piece, a pocket bag, a handbag, a school bag, a carry-on, a wheeled carry-on, a gym bag, a wheeled gym bag, an accessory bag, a diaper bag, and a suitcase.

Considering now the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 12, the security attachment 10 generally includes an elongate closure pull 12 and a retainer or closure pull receptacle 14. The closure pull 12 is secured to the pull tab 9 and is adapted to be received removably within the retainer 14. The retainer or receptacle 14, as will be explained hereinafter in greater details, functions as a security device that prevents the zipper slider 8 from moving from its closed position as best seen in FIG. 12 until access to the interior area of the carrier bag 4 is required by a user (not shown).

Considering now the use of the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 12, the carrier bag 4, as noted earlier, is provided with the zipper 7, the slider 8 and a pull tab 9. The pull tab 9 is provided to help the user in moving the zipper slider 8 from the open position as illustrated in FIG. 1 to the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 12 so as to secure an article within the interior of the bag 4 by closing the bag mouth 6. The carrier bag 4 is also provided with the security attachment 10 which is partially attached to the pull tab 9 and partially attached to either the bag 4 as best seen in FIG. 12 or its shoulder strap 5 as best seen in FIG. 1. In this regard, the closure pull 12 is attached by one of its ends to the pull tab 9 while it's opposite or toggle end is free and unsecured. Since the closure pull 12 is elongate it is provided with a sufficient length to be received within and pass through the retainer or receptacle 14. In this regard, the retainer 14 cooperates with the closure pull 12 to secure the closure pull 12 in a fixed position, thereby securing, holding, locking or preventing the zipper slider 8 from traveling toward the open position as indicated by the direction of arrow A in FIG. 12. When, the zipper slider 8 needs to be freed, so that it can travel toward the open position as illustrated in FIG. 1, the user simply releases the closure pull 12 from the retainer or receptacle 14 so the free toggle end of the closure pull 12 can be grasped and pulled in the direction of the arrow A to unzip the zipper 7.

Considering the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1, 6, 7 and 12, the closure pull 12 generally includes a ligature 20, a small or short pull member 22, and an elongate or toggle pull member 24. The ligature 20 is formed into a closed loop, which closed loop is divided by the short pull member 22 into a small tab loop indicated generally at 30 (FIG. 6) and into a large toggle loop indicated generally at 32 (FIG. 7).

Considering the security attachment 10 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 34, the closure pull 12 generally includes a ligature 20, a small or short pull member 22, and an elongate or toggle pull member 24. The ligature 20 is formed into a closed loop, which closed loop is divided by the short pull member 22 into a small tab loop indicated generally at 30 (FIG. 6) and into a large toggle loop indicated generally at 32.

As best seen in FIGS. 6-7, the small tab loop 30 is secured at its proximal end to the pull tab 9 in a conventional cinching manner while the distal end of the small tab loop 32 is secured to the short pull member 22. In this regard, the short pull member 22 is molded directly onto the ligature 20 to form both the small tab loop 30 and the large toggle loop 32 respectively. From the foregoing, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the free ends of the ligature 20 are concealed within the body of the short pull member 22 to provide the closure pull 12 with a pleasing clean appearance.

The large toggle loop 32 as best seen in FIG. 6 is molded at its proximal end as already noted to the short pull member 22 and is molded at its distal end onto the elongate toggle pull member 24. It should be understood by those skilled in the art, that as an alternative manner of attaching the ligature 20 to the toggle member 24, it is contemplated that the toggle member 24 may be provided with a pair of spaced apart holes or apertures 40 and 42 respectively, which are dimensioned for receiving therein the ligature 20. In this manner, the ligature 20 may be threaded or looped through apertures to secure the ligature 20 to the toggle pull member 24. Either of these methods of securing the ligature 20 to the toggle member 24 is acceptable.

Considering now the small pull member 22 in greater detail, the small pull member 22 is composed of a molded plastic material and is formed into a general oval shape. The pull member 22 has sufficient length, width and height dimensions to allow the two strands of the looped ligature 20 to be secured therein and concealed within its interior. In this manner the closure pull 12 is provided with a pleasing appearance. It should be noted that the length of the small tab loop 30 is also selected to allow the pull member 22 to be disposed in close proximity to the pull tab 9 when the ligature 20 is cinched thereto.

Considering now the toggle member 24 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 6-7, the toggle member 24 is elongate molded plastic member with a slight curvature extending over its overall length. The toggle member 24, like the pull member 22, has sufficient length, width and height dimensions to allow the ligature 20 to be molded directly therein or to be looped therethrough as best seen in FIGS. 6-7. The length of the large toggle loop 32 is selected to allow the entire longitudinal length of the toggle member 24 to pass through the retainer or receptacle 14 and to then be rotated by about 90 degrees so that its overall length is sufficiently long to prevent it from being released from the retainer 14 as best seen in FIG. 12.

Considering now the retainer or receptacle 14 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 12, the retainer 14 generally includes a grommet 26 which is mounted to a piece of fabric which is attached by stitching to the container 4. The piece of fabric may be formed into a shoulder strap 5 as indicated in FIG. 1, or in the alternative it may simply be a short fabric extension 5′ having a sufficient length and width dimension for supporting therein the grommet 26. In this regard, the fabric extension 5′ is attached by stitching S to the container 4.

As best seen in FIG. 12, the grommet 26 is a generally round configuration forming an aperture 58 at its center. The aperture 58 has a sufficient diameter to allow the longitudinal length of the toggle member 24 to pass therethrough and an insufficient diameter to allow the longitudinal length of the toggle member 24 to pass therethrough when the toggle member is oriented at an angle θ thereto, where the angle θ is about 90 degrees. In short, when the toggle member 24 is disposed perpendicular to the entrance area of the grommet 26, the toggle member 24 is blocked by the grommet 26 and can not be released unless the toggle member 24 is reoriented with it longitudinal length in alignment with the entrance area of the grommet 24. Stated otherwise, the toggle member 24 has an overall length that is substantially greater in dimension that the diameter of the grommet 26.

With respect to the angle θ, it has been determined that the toggle member 24 will pass through the aperture 58 when the toggle member 24 is rotated perpendicularly to the hole 58 at an angle θ of between about 30 degree and about 90 degrees. A more preferred orientation is at an angle θ of between about 45 degrees and 90 degrees, while the most preferred orientation is at an angle θ of about 90 degrees.

In summary then, the retainer 14 is affixed to the container 4 by stitching it to the container 4. Also the toggle member 24 has a sufficiently small diameter to pass through said the aperture 58 when inserted by its longitudinal axis and when oriented at about an angle θ in alignment to the orientation of the aperture 58. Moreover, the elongate toggle member 24 has a sufficient longitudinal length to block the toggle member 24 from passing through the aperture 58 when the toggle member 24 is disposed at a perpendicular angle of about 90 degrees to the aperture 58. From the foregoing, it should be understood that the diameter of the aperture 58 must be substantially larger than the diameter of the toggle member 24 in order to allow the toggle member 24 to pass through the aperture 58, and that the longitudinal length of the toggle member 24 must be substantially longer than the diameter of the aperture 58 to prevent the toggle member 24 from passing through the aperture 58 when properly oriented as described.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 2 thereof there is illustrated another preferred embodiment of a security arrangement 210 which is also constructed in accordance with the present invention. The security arrangement 210 is adapted for use with a container in the form of a duffle bag 204, where the duffle bag 204 has a compartment for receiving articles therein. The compartment may be closed by a zipper or slide fastener indicated generally at 207. The slide fastener 207 consists of a plurality of rows of hook elements indicated generally at 31 and 33 which are mounted on individual tape members indicated at 30. Each tape member 30 is sewn or otherwise attached to the corresponding facings of the duffle bag 204 indicated at 36 and 38 respectively. The slide fastener 207 also includes a slider indicated generally at 208 which can be pulled by a pull tab 209 to open or close the slide fastener 207 by causing its hook elements 31 and 33 to engage or disengage from one another.

Considering now the security arrangement 210 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2-5, the security arrangement 210 generally includes an elongate closure pull 212 and a retainer or closure pull receptacle 214. The closure pull 212 is secured to the pull tab 209 and is adapted to be received removably within the retainer 214. The retainer 214, as will be explained hereinafter in greater details, functions as a security device that prevents the zipper slider 208 from moving from its closed position as best seen in FIG. 2 to an open position, such as the open position illustrated in FIG. 1, until access to the interior area of the carrier bag 4 is required by the user.

Considering now the retainer or receptacle 214 in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 2-5, the retainer or receptacle 14 is composed of either a flexible or a non flexible material and includes a base member 50, which has a front face 52 and a rear face 54. The base member 50 has a generally rectangular shape except for its distal end 56 which is curved or rounded. A centrally disposed hole or aperture 58′ is disposed near the rounded distal end 50. A raised edge indicated generally at 55 extends around the rounded edge and is disposed on both the front face 52 and the rear face 54 and extends toward the proximal end of the base member 50. The hole or aperture 58′ is dimensioned for receiving therethrough the toggle member 24 when extended therethrough by it longitudinal direction. More particularly, the elongate toggle member 24 has a sufficiently small diameter to pass through the aperture or hole 58′ when the toggle member 24 is inserted therein by its longitudinal axis. Conversely, the elongate toggle member 24 has a sufficient longitudinal length to block the toggle member 24 from passing through the aperture 58′ when the toggle member 24 is disposed at about a perpendicular angle θ to the aperture 58′.

With respect to the angle θ, it has been determined that the toggle member 24 will pass through the aperture 58′ when the toggle member 24 is rotated perpendicularly to the hole 58′ at an angle θ of between about 30 degree and about 90 degrees. A more preferred orientation is at an angle θ of between about 45 degrees and 90 degrees, while the most preferred orientation is at an angle θ of about 90 degrees.

Various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teaching. For example by reference to FIGS. 8-11 various retainer configurations may be utilized to secure the elongate toggle member to the container.

As an example, in FIG. 8 a container in the form of a camera bag 804 is illustrated where the camera bag 804 is provided with a slide fastener 807 and a security arrangement 810. The security arrangement 810 generally includes an elongate closure pull 812 and a retainer 814 which is adapted to secure the closure pull 812 in a fixed position. The elongate closure pull 812 has a ligature 820 and an elongate toggle member 824. The ligature 820 which is secured at one of its portions to a slider head 808, where the slider head 808 forms part of the slide fastener 807. The ligature 820 is secured by another one of its portions to the toggle member 824. In one embodiment the toggle member 824 is molded onto the ligature 820 and in another embodiment, the ligature 820 is secured onto the toggle member 824. The retainer 814, in this case, is a simple loop L of suitable material 826 which is stitched into a seam of the camera bag 804, by stitching S. The loop L has a small enough diameter to secure the toggle member 824 as best seen in FIG. 8. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that the slide fastener 807 could be provided with a pull tab, and in this configuration, the ligature 820 could be attached to the pull tab instead of to the slider head 808.

As yet another example, in FIG. 9, a container in the form of a wallet 904 is illustrated where the wallet 904 is provided with a slider fastener 907 and a security arrangement 910. The security arrangement 910 generally includes an elongate closure pull 912 and a button retainer 914. The closure pull 912 has secured at one of its ends a toggle member 924. The opposite end of the closure pull 912 is cinched to a pull tab 909. As will be explained, the button retainer 914 is secured or stitched to the wallet 904 and the button retainer 914 is adapted to hold the toggle member 924 in a fixed position relative to the wallet 904. In order to secure the toggle member 924 in a fixed position, the closure pull 912 is provided with a ligature 920 which is configured or arranged into a closed loop which is received on the button retainer 914. In use then, the elongate closure pull 912 is temporarily secured to the container 904 by the button retainer 914. The button retainer 914 in this preferred embodiment generally includes a button 960 which is attached by stitching the button 960 to the wallet 904 as best seen in FIG. 9.

As another example, In FIG. 10 a container in the form of a hand bag 1004 is illustrated where the travel bag 1004 is provided with a slide fastener 1007 with a security arrangement 1010. The security arrangement 1010 generally includes an elongate closure pull 1012 having a toggle member 1024 and a butterfly retainer 1014, where the butterfly retainer 1014 is secured to the travel bag 1004 by a stitching process. In use, the elongate closure pull 1012 is temporarily secured to the container by the butterfly retainer 1014. The butterfly retainer 1014 in this configuration is secured to the container 1004 in closed proximity to the zipper closure 1007 and generally includes a butterfly flap 1015 which is stitched to the container shoulder bag 1004. The butterfly flap 1015 has a slit 1016 is disposed therein, where the slit 1016 is dimensioned for receiving therein a ligature 1020 forming part of the elongate closure pull 1012. The slit 1016 is sufficiently narrow to prevent the toggle member 1024 of the closure pull 1012 from passing therethrough when said toggle member 1024 is disposed substantially perpendicular to the closure but not sufficiently narrow to prevent the toggle member 1024 from passing therethrough when the toggle member 1024 is disposed substantially in longitudinal alignment with the closure.

In FIG. 11 a container in the form of a belt bag 1104 is illustrated where the belt bag 1104 is provided with a slide fastener 1107 with a security arrangement 11010. The security attachment generally includes a closure pull 1124 and a retainer 1124. The retainer 1124 as illustrated includes a fabric extension 1111 attached to the container 1104. The fabric extension 1111 has a snap button attached thereto which is adapted to capture and retain in a fixed location a ring loop 1114 which forms part of the closure pull 1124. The ring loop 1114 is attached to the pull tab 1108 as best seen in FIG. 11.

It is noted that the preferred embodiments of the present invention described herein in detail for exemplary purposes are of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the description requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A security attachment for a slide fastener having a slider and a slider head, comprising: a closure pull adapted to be attached to the slider head; and a security retainer for holding said closure pull in a fixed position to substantially prevent travel by said slider.
 2. The security attachment according to claim 1, wherein said closure pull includes a cord and a toggle member.
 3. The security attachment according to claim 1, wherein the slider is attached to a container; and wherein said container is selected from a group of containers that include: a duffle bag, a wallet, a tote bag, a hiking bag, a bike bag, a camera bag, a pouch, a backpack, a shoulder bag, a messenger bag, a purse, a clutch, a piece of luggage, a wheeled piece of luggage, a wheeled tote, a wheeled duffle, a wheeled backpack, a climbing bag, a travel pack, a bag, a toiletry bag, a wheeled toiletry bag, a laptop bag, a briefcase, a business case, a sling bag, a waist pack, a fanny pack, a lumbar bag, a belt bag, a neck wallet, an under-garment bag, a suitor bag, a wheeled suitor bag, a garment bag, a wheeled garment bag, a convertible duffle, a convertible luggage piece, a wheeled convertible luggage piece, a pocket bag, a handbag, a school bag, a carry-on, a wheeled carry-on, a gym bag, a wheeled gym bag, an accessory bag, a diaper bag, or a suitcase.
 4. A security attachment for use in combination with a container having a slide fastener with a slider coupled to a pull tab, comprising: a security retainer secured to the container in close proximity to the slide fastener; and an elongate toggle closure pull attached to the pull tab and adapted to be removably secured in a fixed place by said security retainer; whereby the slider is held in a closed position until said toggle closure is released from said security retainer.
 5. The security attachment according to claim 4, wherein said security retainer is a butterfly flap secured to the container in close proximity to said closure; wherein said butterfly flap has a slit for receiving therein said cord; and wherein said slit is sufficiently narrow to prevent said toggle member from passing therethrough when said toggle member is disposed substantially perpendicular to said closure but not sufficiently narrow to prevent said toggle member from passing therethrough when said toggle member is disposed substantially in longitudinal alignment with said closure.
 6. The security attachment according to claim 4, wherein said security retainer is a grommet disposed on a proximal end of a carrying strap attached to the container; said grommet being further disposed in sufficient proximity to said closure to allow said closure pull to be secured by said security retainer.
 7. The security attachment according to claim 4, wherein said closure pull is formed into a closed loop; wherein said security retainer is a flap having a snap button attached thereto, said flap being attached to said container in longitudinal alignment with said closure; and wherein said snap button allows said flap to be closed upon itself to facilitate removably securing said closure pull in a fixed position to secure said closure in a closed position.
 8. A security attachment, comprising: a zipper security tab secured to a container having a zipper with a pull tab; wherein said zipper security tab is secured in close proximity to a closed end of said zipper; an elongate toggle zipper pull attached to said pull tab; and wherein said toggle zipper pull is adapted to be removably secured to said zipper security tab for securing said zipper in a closed position.
 9. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab includes an aperture.
 10. The security attachment according to claim 9, wherein said elongate toggle zipper pull includes a ligature and an elongate toggle member; wherein said ligature is secured by a proximal end thereof to said pull tab and secured by a distal end thereof to said toggle member.
 11. The security attachment according to claim 10, wherein said elongate toggle member has a sufficiently small diameter to pass through said aperture when inserted by its longitudinal axis; and wherein said elongate toggle member has a sufficient longitudinal length to block the toggle member from passing through said aperture when the toggle member is disposed at an angle θ to said aperture.
 12. The security attachment according to claim 11, wherein said angle θ is between about 1 degree and about 90 degrees.
 13. The security attachment according to claim 12, wherein a more preferred angle θ is between about 45 degrees and about 90 degrees.
 14. The security attachment according to claim 13, wherein a most preferred angle θ is 90 degrees.
 15. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab is secured to the container by a stitching process.
 16. The security attachment according to claim 10, wherein said toggle member is secured to said ligature.
 17. The security attachment according to claim 10, wherein said toggle member includes a plurality of apertures dimensioned for receiving therein said ligature.
 18. The security attachment according to claim 17, wherein said ligature passes through said apertures for securing said ligature to said toggle member.
 19. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab has a front side and a rear side, wherein said front side and said rear side each have a raised edge for helping to align said zipper security tab in perpendicular alignment with a container seam for attachment purposes.
 20. The security attachment according to claim 8, wherein said zipper security tab is composed of a flexible or non flexible material. 